TORONTO — Barbados has announced new port entry guidelines for cruise travellers.

The update means that fully vaccinated travellers can now enter Barbados via cruise ship without a COVID-19 test.

Here’s a look at the protocols in detail:

EMBARKATION

Barbados requires each cruise line to conduct health assessments of travellers prior to embarkation, which includes questions to identify symptoms that indicate a traveler’s health status. In addition, travellers will be required to follow testing guidelines as determined by the cruise line prior to boarding. Cruise lines are required to submit their Maritime Declaration of Health to the Chief Medical Officer at least 24 hours prior to arrival and again within 12 hours of the vessel’s arrival. They are also required to make arrangements for the isolation of passengers who test positive prior to embarkation on a homeport cruise. The cost of such service shall be to the account of the passenger or the cruise line.

TRANSIT CALLS & SHORE EXCURSIONS

Fully vaccinated travellers (eligible if they have completed a full regimen of vaccines from any of the approved COVID-19 vaccinations, at least 14 days prior to travel to Barbados) are no longer required to take a COVID-19 test to enter Barbados. All travellers will follow the general health guidelines relating to sanitization and social distancing established at the Port of Bridgetown’s homeport and passenger facilities. With respect to air-sea passenger movements, ground handling agents will coordinate staggered transfer of travellers to ensure social distancing and reduce congestion.

DISEMBARKATION (ISLAND STAYS)

Travellers disembarking and staying on-island from a homeport cruise will be required to complete the Immigration Online Entry/Departure Form (ED) at least 72 hours prior to arrival.

VACCINATIONS

Approved vaccines are Phizer-BioNTech (COMIRNATY), Oxford-AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), Covishield, Moderna, Janssen (Johnson and Johnson), Covaxin, Sinovac-CoronaVac, Sinopharm, Sputnik V, Cansino (CONVIDECIA), Novavax (Nuvaxovid), Covovax, Abdala.

More information about travel to Barbados can be found at visitbarbados.org.